- April 29, 2015
- 10:17 am
- Al Gini
- no comments
Corporate Social Responsibility
Gini in a Bottle
Al Gini
“Corporate Social Responsibility”
A few months ago Starbucks, with the best of intentions, wanted to demonstrate that they are a corporation that cares. They started a campaign which attempted to engage their employee’s and costumers in an impromptu discussion of race and other related social matters. Sadly, the company’s attempt failed for practical and philosophical reasons. As one costumer put it: “In my rush to grab a quick cup of coffee and get to work I don’t want to exchange highly sensitive thoughts, in a public place, with my barista!”
The bottom line for me is that Starbucks didn’t do anything wrong. They just didn’t carry it off very well. In fact, I think they should be praised for raising the following series of questions.
- Should business only be concerned with obeying the law?
- Should business only be concerned about business and making a profit?
- Should business separate itself from larger social concerns?
- Does business have social and ethical responsibilities above the bottom line?
- Must every business be philanthropic and charitable?
In other words, Starbucks reintroduced a critical ethical question regarding all forms of business that we have yet been able to clearly answer as society. That question is: “If business corporations are stake holders and citizens of state, what are their rights and obligations above that of being profitable? Should business engage in or separate itself from larger social concerns?